Investment Operations Associate

Northwestern Mutual - Private Client Group | Irving, TX | In-Office

We are seeking an Investment Operations Specialist to support a boutique Northwestern Mutual Private Client Group practice serving high-net-worth clients. This role is the operational backbone of a small, high-performing team, responsible for the accurate, compliant, and timely processing of investment business across advisory, brokerage, and managed account platforms.

The ideal candidate is detail-driven, professional, and genuinely enjoys client interaction, with a working command of the asset transfer process and the judgment to know which questions to ask before money moves. Day-to-day, this person will handle account onboarding and transfers, support trading and rebalancing workflows, prepare advisor and client meeting materials, maintain compliance documentation, and respond to client service requests.

This is a role with a deliberate runway: it begins in operations and expands into direct client relationship ownership as the person demonstrates capability.

About our firm:

Northwestern Mutual’s Private Client Group serves the firm’s most sophisticated clients, integrating comprehensive financial planning with institutional-grade investment solutions. This practice is a three-person boutique team led by a Managing Director and supported by a Director of Operations & Client Services and a Financial Advisor. The practice is mature, with 20 years of history and approximately $70-80M in assets under management.

This role reports directly to the Managing Director. The practice operates within the Northwestern Mutual planning philosophy, which integrates insurance vehicles as a core component of comprehensive client planning.

• Process new account openings, transfers, and maintenance requests across advisory and brokerage platforms
• Own the asset movement process end to end, including ACAT transfers, rollovers, and funding activity, and identify account type treatment, qualifying questions, and required documentation on IRA, qualified, and non-qualified transfers
• Support daily trading workflows, including model updates, rebalancing requests, and trade corrections
• Monitor account activity, cash positions, and pending items to ensure timely resolution
• Prepare investment paperwork, proposals, and service forms for advisor and client meetings
• Provide advisors with accurate account data, performance reports, and investment summaries
• Respond to client service needs related to accounts, transactions, statements, and reporting, and interact directly with clients in a professional, consultative manner
• Ensure all investment transactions meet FINRA, SEC, and Northwestern Mutual compliance requirements, and maintain accurate records, audit trails, and documentation
• Support annual reviews, suitability updates, and regulatory reporting requirements
• Utilize NM platforms and CRM systems to manage workflows, maintain data integrity, and generate performance, holdings, and activity reports
• Identify process gaps and recommend improvements to enhance operational efficiency

Qualifications:

• Series 7 required
• 3-5 years of experience in investment operations, wealth management support, brokerage service, or financial services
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Accounting, Economics, or a related field preferred
• Background at a major custodian or brokerage firm strongly preferred, including titles such as Investor Services Specialist or Client Service Specialist
• Working knowledge of the asset transfer process, including account types, transfer rules, and required documentation
• Strong understanding of investment products: mutual funds, ETFs, advisory accounts, SMAs, UMAs, and annuities
• Alignment with the Northwestern Mutual planning philosophy, including the role of insurance vehicles within a comprehensive plan
• Interest in pursuing the CFP® or CFA designation over time
• Proficiency with CRM systems, custodial and managed account platforms, and financial services technology
• High attention to detail and accuracy, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent workflows
• Ability to commute to the office in Irving, TX — we are an in-office team!

Growth Path:

This person will have…